Display-holder for shoestrings



No. 6l6,657. Patented Dec. 27, I898. J. K. GAINES.

DISPLAY HOLDER FDR SHOESTBIPGS.

A umion 106 on. 2, 18 97.)

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JOSEPH K. GAINES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-HOLDER FOR SHOESTRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,657, dated December 27, 1898.

Application filed October 2, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH K. Gi -urns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Holders for Shoestrings, the. and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to the class of show racks or devices for holding and suspending goods for ready access or inspection in stores and other places; and it consists in an improved device for holding shoestrings and the like, as well as handkerchiefs, suspenders, and other small articles.

In the accompanying drawings I have illus trated several forms in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and the said invention is disclosed in the following description and claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the device holding a bunch of shoestrings. Fig. 2 is a view of the device as prepared formarket. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the device. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view, the full lines showing the position of parts when ready for receiving the articles, the dotted lines showing the retracted position when holding the parts.

The device shown in the figures consists of the two intermeshing coils or rings a ct and a connectingspring Z) between them. In this instance the whole device is made from a single piece of wire, one or more coils being formed at Z1 to give the necessary elasticity.

W'hile I have shown three rings or coils at a and two at a, the number might be increased, if desired, or reduced to two on one side and one on the other.

In operating the device the coils a a are Serial No. 653,853- (No model.)

forced toward each other, the two coils or rings of ct passing between the coils or rings of a. Pressure is continued until the coils or rings are nearly in alinement with each other. The ends of the articles to be held are then inserted in the opening thus formed and the coils or rings released. The spring b'throws the coils outward, grasping the articles, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The pressure upon the articles thus held is such as to hold them securely when the holder is suspended upon a nail or hook or by a cord passing through the coil 1), and each independent article can be easily withdrawn by pulling upon it without loosening the others.

The size of the coils a and ct may be varied to suit the purposes for which the device is to be used.

It will be noted that the parts of each coil which intermesh with the corresponding parts of the other coil are held elastically in relation to the other parts of the coil, so that when the coils are brought together and the coils of the one do not engage with exactness the engaging parts will yield to permit of the due intcrmeshing or to permit the introduc tion of the articles which are to be held.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A device for holding shoe-laces and other articles, consisting of a clasp composed of two coils connected by a spring tending to force the two coils away from each other, said coils being adapted to intermesh when brought together, each part of the coils being held elastically in relation to the other parts of the coil, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I tffiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH K. GAINES.

lVitnesses:

HOWARD XV. GAINEs, MARTIN A. J. GIBBoNs. 

